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Ma Barker's Killer Brood

Plot

The story of America's most notorious gangster mother is chronicled in this crime drama. The tale starts in Oklahoma during the Depression. It is she who encourages her sons to become criminals. So sage is her advice, that other infamous mobsters such as Dillinger, and Machine Gun Kelly come to her for advice. She and her outlaw progeny go on the lam until the police finally corner her in her richly appointed Florida hide-out. A bloody shoot-out ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Review

History is undecided about the facts surrounding the legendary Ma Barker. Was she a criminal mastermind or merely the devoted mother to a gang of outlaw sons? The truth is unimportant in this slam-bang crime spree of a film, which is consistently entertaining if not entirely accurate. As Ma (Lurene Tuttle) barks her way through the role with an over-the-top abandon that keeps the action humming. From the very beginning she's busting her "sissy" son's violin and teaching her boys to steal from the church collection plate. Various characters who cross the Barker gang are burned alive, intentionally crushed with automobiles and forced to commit suicide by Russian Roulette, but director Bill Karn achieves a cartoonish tone, despite the mayhem. Notably amusing is the inclusion of every well-known crook of the '30s; Pretty Boy Floyd, Machine Gun Kelly, and John Dillinger all drop by the Barker hideout to talk shop or have a piece of Ma's famous cherry pie. Roger Corman's 1970 exploitation of the Ma Barker legacy, Bloody Mama may have been sleazier, but Ma Barker's Killer Brood is a top-notch crime fable shot through with panache and deserves its resurrection on various budget-priced DVDs. ~ Fred Beldin, Rovi

Cast

Roy Ward Baker - Lloyd Barker; Owen Bush - Carney; Tristram Coffin - Arthur Dunlop; Myrna Dell - Lou; Paul Dubov - Alvin Karpis; Ron Foster - Doc Barker; Byron Foulger - Dr. Guelffe; Riley Hill - Deputy; Nelson Leigh - George Barker; Vic Lundin - Machine Gun Kelly; Dan Riss - Baxter; Eric Sinclair - John Dillinger; Michael Smith - Fred as a Boy; Donald Spruance - Herman Barker; Charles Tannen - 1st Sheriff; Donald Towers - Lloyd as a Boy; Lurene Tuttle - Ma Barker; Dan White - 2nd Sheriff; Bill Couch, Jr. - Guard; John McNamara - Mr. Khortney; Wally Rose; Paul Power - Minister; George Dockstader; David Carlile - Avery; Don Grady - Herman as a Boy; Robert Kendall - Baby Face Nelson; Eric Morris - Fred Barker; Irene Windust - Mrs. Khortney

Credit

Bill Karn - Director, Gene Kauer - Composer (Music Score), Maj. Clark Ramsey - Cinematographer, William Faris - Producer, Harry Reif - Set Designer, Frank Hall - Screenwriter

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